Who owns Playground Studios?

Playground Studios is owned by Microsoft, as the company was acquired by Microsoft Studios (now known as Xbox Game Studios) in 2018, with the acquisition announcement made during the E3 2018 press conference. This acquisition was a significant move for Microsoft, as Playground Games is the developer of the highly successful Forza Horizon series, which has become a flagship franchise for Xbox and a major player in the racing game genre.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

1. What is Playground Games known for? Playground Games is known for developing the Forza Horizon series, a highly successful and critically acclaimed series of racing games that has become a flagship franchise for Xbox.
2. When was Playground Games founded? Playground Games was founded in 2009 by Gavin Raeburn and Trevor Williams.
3. Where is Playground Games headquartered? Playground Games is headquartered in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, United Kingdom.

Ownership and Acquisition

4. Who acquired Playground Games? Microsoft acquired Playground Games in 2018, with the company becoming part of Microsoft Studios (now known as Xbox Game Studios).
5. Why did Microsoft acquire Playground Games? The acquisition was likely made to secure the development of the Forza Horizon series and to bring the talented team at Playground Games into the Xbox family.

Forza Franchise

6. Who owns the Forza franchise? The Forza franchise is owned by Microsoft, with Turn 10 Studios being the primary developer of the series.
7. How many copies has the Forza series sold? The Forza series has sold over 16 million copies as of April 2021, making it one of the best-selling racing game franchises of all time.
8. How much revenue has the Forza franchise generated? The Forza franchise has generated over $1 billion in retail sales, making it a highly successful and lucrative franchise for Microsoft.

Personnel and Staff

9. Who is the creative director of Playground Games? The creative director of Playground Games is Mike Brown, who is also the creative director of the Forza Horizon series.
10. Why did Mike Brown leave Playground Games? Mike Brown left Playground Games to form a new AAA studio with some of his former colleagues.
11. Is Mike Brown still coaching? Mike Brown is the head coach of the Sacramento Kings, and has no involvement with Playground Games or the Forza franchise.

Gaming Industry

12. Is Playground Games a AAA game development studio? Yes, Playground Games is a AAA game development studio, with a team of experienced and talented developers.
13. What type of games does Playground Games develop? Playground Games develops racing games, specifically the Forza Horizon series.
14. Is the Forza series available on multiple platforms? Yes, the Forza series is available on multiple platforms, including Xbox and Windows 10.

Miscellaneous

15. What is the most profitable game franchise of all time? The Pokémon franchise is the most profitable game franchise of all time, having generated over $88 billion in revenue since its inception in 1996.